How to Paint a Plastic Frame

Painting plastic frames or any other plastic item is much easier than it has been in the past. Plastics have a glossy surface and a tendency to not bond to paint well without a lot of preparation. With some companies now making paints primarily targeted toward plastics, there seems to be less preparing and more painting being done. You do have to properly prepare plastics in order for the paint to adhere, but you can spend less time painting and more time enjoying your work.

Things You'll Need

• Sponge
• Dish detergent
• Drop cloth
• Cleaning rags
• Painter's tape
• Water bucket
• Krylon fusion (optional)
• Rustoleum plastic paint (optional)
• Cardboard (optional)
• Screwdriver (optional)
• Wrench (optional)

Instructions

1. Disconnect any metal hardware that may be attached to the frame.

2. Clean the plastic frame using a mix of three cups of warm water to one cup of mild dish detergent. Clean the plastic well, removing dirt and grime before painting.

3. Add painter's tape to areas surrounding your plastic frame that you want to keep paint-free. This includes appliances, cupboards or personal items. For larger appliances like stoves, you can place cardboard under the tape to cover bigger areas.

4. Place drop cloths in the area where you will be working. Drop cloths keep the areas under you free from drips, spray, and splattered paint.

5. Utilize a spray paint designed exclusively for plastics. Krylon and Rustoleum are manufacturers of one-step direct plastic paints. Spray in even, steady strokes from left to right to avoid runs or drips in the finish.

6. Review the base coat spray paint to see if you will need a second coat. You will be looking for uneven paint distribution or bare spots. Add a second coat of plastic paint if necessary.

7. Protect your plastic frame finish with a coat of varnish paint. Waiting for the paint to dry for at least the recommended time will deliver maximum results with a varnish coat.

8. Apply the varnish the same way you did the paint. Let dry at least two hours before handling the frame once the varnish is applied.

Tips & Warnings

• Ventilate the room you are working in before beginning the painting process.

References

• Krylon Plastic
• Krylon Varnish
• Rustoleum Plastic

Resources

• Porter Paints